Please thank Dr. Gibbens for taking
action against the Lovelace Lab, but further fines need to be assessed
because negligence at this lab continues to kill animals ( a dog
recently suffocated due to an improperly assembled anesthesia machine).

Washington, DC – Recently obtained federal reports reveal that the Lovelace
Respiratory Research Institute (Albuquerque, NM) has been fined $21,750 by the
USDA for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act over a three year period.

The agreement disclosing the penalty became available today, according to the
national research watchdog group SAEN.

The most recent infraction cited in the penalty agreement centered on the
suffocation death of a primate at the lab during 2009.

However, the violations at the lab have continued after the death of the
primate. USDA inspection reports dated March 24th, 2010, reveal multiple
incidents of negligence which took the lives of dogs. One incident killed a dog
through suffocation due to a faulty modification of an anesthesia machine. This
was the second time that a dog had received insufficient oxygen from this
apparatus.

Another incident disclosed the exsanguinations of a dog in an unapproved, and
therefore illegal, surgical procedure.

A third incident further revealed the ineptitude of Lovelace staff when a
monkey was accidentally anesthetized twice in the same day. However in this
instance the animal survived the procedure.

“The fine for the 2007 - 2009 incidents is definitely a step in the right
direction,”said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. "However,
negligence at thie facility has continued to kill animals. Further Fines should
be assessed by thge USDA."

The penalty agreement, as well as recent inspection reports, are attached to
this email.

Please thank Dr. Gibbens for taking
action against the Lovelace Lab, but further fines need to be assessed
because negligence at this lab continues to kill animals ( a dog
recently suffocated due to an improperly assembled anesthesia machine).